Christmas shopping in Malmo

Today we had arranged to go to Malmo with Kristians sister Hanne and her husband Flemming. Even though we had the day off work, we were still up early. The kids all left for school and we left to drive down to meet Hanne and Flemming.

Then it was off to Malmo, Sweden for a day of shopping. We had a map of Malmo with things you could do and see. After seeing an advert for "Malmo´s Biggest Shopping Centre" we just had to check it out. Boy, were we disappointed!! It was so tiny!! haha

So we left there and headed into the heart of Malmo. There were lots of shops there, and it was really cosy. I loved the old buildings. We decided to split up for a while and meet up again for lunch, that way we would get more shopping done.

It was sooo cold so we found a shopping centre in the centre and wandered around there for a while, just trying to get warm.

The shopping centre was so beautifully decorated with loads of lights, and there in the middle of the shopping centre was Santa. I just had to go and have a chat....

I asked him if I could have my picture taken with him and he was more than happy - hey, I even got to sit on his knee. Was tempted to ask him if I could steal a kiss - but thought I better not, Kristian was after all taking the picture! haha

But he was a nice old man and I even understood his Swedish!

We met up again with Hanne and Flemming and went for lunch in a lovely restaurant. You can see it below. It´s the old building to the right. It was really beautifully decorated inside, and the food was delicious.

We then headed a little north of Malmo to another shopping centre that we had read about. It was bigger than the last one, so we spent the last couple of hours walking around there.

I got a few small things for the kids stocking.

We ended the day with coffee and hot chocolate before driving home to Denmark.

It has been a lovely day. We really enjoyed ourselves. Thanks Hanne and Flemming for inviting us along for the ride.

We realised something today. Out is good, but home is best! Having experienced Malmo/Sweden I would say that Denmark has a lot better shopping centres and a bigger choice of goods. It sure felt good going to a new place but it was also good to be heading home again to the place we know and love.

I just remembered...

Yes, I just remembered that it is the 1st Saturday in the month. It´s chat night!!

Well, I know everyone is probably busy - it being December and all. But I will check in at 8pm (English time) and see if anyone is around for a wee chat. (I really can´t stay on long tonight - and I mean it!! haha)

So if you´re available for a chat I will see you later.

Only 9 working days left!!

...yes, that´s all I have left. Nine working days and then I am off for 2 whole weeks!! I can hardly wait!



Once again it´s Friday. Yipieeeee (I´m sure, by now, you know how much I LOVE Fridays - it´s the best day of the week.)



Well, after work today, I spent the best part of the afternoon shopping for sweets. Lots of them!! They were not for me - honest! (Well ok - some of them were for me and the kids - but only a small amount, after all Friday is our sweetie eating night!) The rest I bought for church. We are having a special Christmas service/café in church on Sunday and the kids are all getting sweets. I got the job of making the sweetie bags - all 80 of them!!



So after buying what seemed like all the sweets in the shop, I headed to McDonalds to get Andrew, Leah and me a burger. Kristian was out at his Christmas dinner with work, and Sara left today to visit her good friend Winnie. She will spend the weekend with her. So I thought we 3 who were at home, should have a wee treat.



After dinner Andrew headed out to his friends - along with his computer! Then Leah and I snuggled down on the sofa to watch some TV and eat our sweets. Very cosy.


I have only 9 working days left before Christmas. I have this Monday and Tuesday off work. Monday, Kristian and I are going to Sweden to do some Christmas shopping. The Swedish kroner is quite low so we can save some money going over there to shop. We are going with his sister Hanne and her husband Flemming. Should be a great day out. It´s only about 1 hours drive away to Malmö.


I was only meant to have Monday off but then decided to really treat myself and take Tuesday off too - (so I can pack away the presents and get a bit organised!)It sure is a nice way to start the week - 2 days off!

Please pass me a tissue....

....I needed a box of them last night. What happened? Let me tell you...

It all started yesterday afternoon. I bought a magazine on the way home from work because there was a free DVD with it. The DVD was called "The Notebook" - maybe some of you have heard of it?

So last night I decided to go to bed early, take my laptop into bed, and watch a little of the DVD. I wasnt expecting it to be good - so I thought I would watch ½ hour, then turn it off. But how wrong I was. I was captivated by the story right from the start.

It was a passionate film about love. Let me tell you about it without giving the plot away...(if I can!)

Duke, an old gentleman reads a story from "The Notebook" to a old lady suffering from early stages of Alzheimers. (The film is about the story he is reading.) The notebook he is reading from, tells the story of a 17 year old girl called Allie. (It´s set around 1940) She is from a wealthy family holidaying for the summer in a small town. In this town lives Noah. He comes from a poor family and works in the local saw mill. From the moment Noah see´s Allie he falls head over heels in love. He pesters her until she agrees to go on a date...and they both fall madly and passionately in love. Typical, I hear you say. Yes maybe, but the actors play the parts so well, so passionately, so wonderfully. I was away in the film - I was Allie who was in love with Noah (haha) The film is a story about their lives. It´s a story about love and how strong the bond of love is, no matter what age you are. (I wont tell anymore - go rent it or buy it - but only if you are into romantic films!!)

I started crying from about half way through and I cried and I cried, not because I was sad, (althought there was a few sad moments) but because their love was just soooo beautiful!

When the film finally finished it was mid-night and I had a sore head and sore eyes from crying! I packed the computer away and settled down to sleep, but as I lay their in the dark, I thought about the film again and the more I thought about it, the more beautiful I thought their love was and I would start crying all over again. I tell you, my pillow was soaking!! haha

Finally I fell asleep! So for all you romantic hearts - if you want to see a film that will touch your heart, see this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I going off now to see it again!

We started the decorating

What a job it is decorating the house for christmas! I, every year, regret that I never packed things away properly. It takes hours to unwind all the lights, decorations etc. (This year I am going to take time and pack things away properly, but then again I said that last year at this time too!)


So we started the decorating - we found snowflakes for the window (forgot we had them!)
We found the good old Christmas cushion covers. Funny the memories they bring back! The kids all love these cushion covers, especially one of them were there is a bear family, the baby bears are all opening their presents. There is one boy and two girls, a mum and dad, and when the kids were younger we pretended the bears were Sara, Andrew and Leah.

I was thinking of not putting those cushion covers on this year, I am a bit tired of them, but the kids put their foot down and said that the covers had to go on, it was our tradition. So once again they are on the cushions!

Leah decorated her room. She has her own wee tree and a few ornaments for around the room.

We didnt get all the decorating done today. We discovered some of the lights didnt work, and we want to buy a few more decorations. (Now that we have had a look through what we have and dont have!) But we got the kitchen finished today. Well nearly finished - we just have a few things to put up at the window.

The Danes love to eat something called Risengrod (Rice Pudding). They eat it with cinnamon sugar and a knob of butter. So it being the 1st Sunday in Advent I decided to make it for dinner. You cook it slowly but it can very easily burn, so my mother-in-law taught me a way to make it so it doesnt burn. Once you have warmed up the milk and rice - you take it off the heat and wrap it in newspapers and then in a duvet for at least 2 hours. The longer the better.

So that´s what I did. For 3 hours the rice pudding was cooking away in our bed, wrapped up in our duvet. We then ate it with cinnamon sugar, and a knob of butter by candle light. Cosy!

We wont put our tree up for a few weeks yet. Over here there is no plastic trees, everyone goes out and buys real trees. It´s really nice - the smell of the tree is wonderful.

So in a few weeks time we will go out to my bosses place - he sells Christmas trees. We get to pick one and cut it down ourselves. Then we have to wait a few days before we can take it indoors to decorate. I love that.

We have a tradition that we decorate the Christmas tree in the afternoon and that evening we sit and watch "The Griswalds Christmas Vacation". It is soooo hilarious. So all that´s left to say is . " Let the Christmas traditions begin!!! Hope you and your family will enjoy the whole of December month!!"

I really am spoilt....

.....its true, I really am spoilt.

I have been away all day today. When I left the house this morning it needed a good cleaning, when I came home it was spotless!!

What was I doing? Well my friend Audry and I went to Copenhagen Christmas shopping. There were a few things we needed and they could only be got in there. So we left at 10.30am this morning and took the train in.

It rained all day. It was typical Northern Ireland weather, only in Denmark! I was feeling very much at home!!

While in Copenhagen I just had to make a visit to the English shop to get my Bisto gravy granules for Christmas dinner. (which, by the way, cost me about £3.20 for a small box of 170grms!! Daylight robbery!!) After that we headed out to one of the big shopping centres just to get out of the rain. What a good idea that was!

We spent the day walking around shopping - in the dry - and we picked up a few bargins for some people (who will remain nameless, just in case they are reading the blog!!)

Finally at 7pm I was home. It was such a brilliant day and the time went by sooo fast. I cant believe I have been out shopping all day!!

On the way home I was sitting in the train thinking about what I should do when I got home. I was starting to feel discouraged cause I knew the house needed cleaning and I really didnt feel like going home to do it. Yet, I wanted it clean for the start of a new week and also because I wanted to start decorating tomorrow with Christmas lights etc. I wanted everything clean and ready tonight.

But as you have worked out, when I got home everything was done. (Well nearly everything - I just need to change the cat tray - Kristian literally throws up if he has to do that!! hahaha What a whimp!)

I was so pleased! I really thought Kristian was going to have a day at home relaxing and just enjoy racing cars without his wife around to annoy him, but instead he cleaned the house. Now I know I really am spoiled - thanks Kris for all your hard work.

Tomorrow is the 1st Sunday in Advent. The Danes put lights in the window, decorate the house with Christmas decorations and some even give Advent gifts to one another. They also have an advents wreath with 4 candles. Only the first candle on the wreath will be lit tomorrow, then next Sunday two will be lit etc. By the 4th Sunday before Christmas all the lights are lit on the wreath. It´s a really nice tradition. Must admit I am so looking forward to decorating tomorrow!!